Sunday, January 13, 2013

Saville and Rogowska awarded Australian Open spots

Updated January 04, 2013 13:36:53

Rising Aussie tennis stars Luke Saville and Olivia Rogowska have been granted wildcards into this month's Australian Open in Melbourne.

Saville, who won the Australian Open junior title last year and the Wimbledon junior title a year earlier, has been nudging his way up the senior rankings and is now ranked 349 in the world after winning tournaments in Cairns and Bangkok in 2012.

"To be competing against some of the best players in the world is going to be a great experience for me," Saville said.

"I feel as if this is a reward for the great year I have had and all the hard work I have put into my tennis."

The Adelaide-based 18-year-old was named male junior of the year at the Newcombe Medal, Australian Tennis Awards, last month.

Rogowska, 21, achieved a career-high singles ranking of 108 during 2012 with title wins in Esperance, Rockhampton and Burnie, and main draw appearances at the Australian and US Opens.

Rogowska said she is grateful to tournament director Craig Tiley for the opportunity to play in front of family and friends in her home town of Melbourne.

"I've been training really well over the last few months and have worked a lot on my fitness and strength," Rogowska said.

"I believe that I can compete with the top girls in the world. I'm looking forward to a big 2013 and there is no better way to start than at the first Grand Slam of the year."

The reciprocal French Open wildcards will go to 19-year-old Caroline Garcia, currently ranked number 154, and Josselin Ouanna, ranked number 120.

A promising junior, Ouanna defeated current world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the boys' singles draw at the Australian Open in 2004 before going down to countryman Gael Monfils in the decider.

Tags: sport, tennis, melbourne-3000, renmark-5341, adelaide-5000

First posted January 03, 2013 17:12:47


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